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Knife crime: MPs debate mandatory jail for second offence Knife crime: MPs back mandatory jail term for second offence
(about 1 hour later)
The House of Commons is considering whether to impose mandatory jail terms on any adult convicted of a second offence involving a knife. The House of Commons has backed a move to impose mandatory jail terms on any adult convicted in England or Wales of a second offence involving a knife.
Backbench Conservative MP Nick de Bois is championing the move, which enjoys wide support among Conservative and Labour MPs - but not Liberal Democrats. Conservative MP Nick de Bois championed the policy, which won wide support among Conservative and Labour MPs - but was opposed by Liberal Democrats.
Mr de Bois, the MP for Enfield North, told MPs that current penalties did nothing to prevent knife crime.Mr de Bois, the MP for Enfield North, told MPs that current penalties did nothing to prevent knife crime.
A vote on his proposals is expected at about 18:00 BST. His proposals were agreed by 404 votes to 53, a majority of 351.
Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has previously said the policy "would impose a substantial new pressure on the prison population" and "would certainly not be affordable before 2016-17".Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has previously said the policy "would impose a substantial new pressure on the prison population" and "would certainly not be affordable before 2016-17".
Although Conservative ministers are expected to abstain as a result of the coalition split, Mr de Bois is seeking to galvanise backbench support behind his amendments to the Criminal Courts and Justice Bill. Conservative ministers are thought to have abstained from the vote as a result of the coalition split.
He aims to ensure that adults receive a minimum six-month jail term on their second conviction for carrying a knife, while 16-year-olds would be given at least a four-month detaining and training order. But Mr de Bois sought to galvanise backbench support behind his amendments to the Criminal Courts and Justice Bill.
The measures aim to ensure that adults receive a minimum six-month jail term on their second conviction for carrying a knife, while 16-year-olds would be given at least a four-month detaining and training order.
'Think of consequences'
"Some have argued that sending a signal may not be enough, that potential offenders do not think of the consequences of pocketing a knife," Mr de Bois said."Some have argued that sending a signal may not be enough, that potential offenders do not think of the consequences of pocketing a knife," Mr de Bois said.
"This is entirely possible but it would, I think, also be to miss the wider point of this sentencing change, because for those that are actually embarking on a journey that embraces the knife culture, the eventual destination of this journey may be serious injury to someone else or even to the carrier of the knife, and frankly it can lead to the death of someone. They may take a life."This is entirely possible but it would, I think, also be to miss the wider point of this sentencing change, because for those that are actually embarking on a journey that embraces the knife culture, the eventual destination of this journey may be serious injury to someone else or even to the carrier of the knife, and frankly it can lead to the death of someone. They may take a life.
"And that journey to destruction which quite simply ruins lives included picking up and carrying a knife for the first time."And that journey to destruction which quite simply ruins lives included picking up and carrying a knife for the first time.
'Occupational hazard'
"Quite simply, in the vast majority of cases, let's face it, to kill someone with a knife you first have to carry a knife, and I believe our courts are dispensing sentences for possession of a knife in thousands of cases that are quite simply treated by offenders as little more than an occupational hazard."Quite simply, in the vast majority of cases, let's face it, to kill someone with a knife you first have to carry a knife, and I believe our courts are dispensing sentences for possession of a knife in thousands of cases that are quite simply treated by offenders as little more than an occupational hazard.
"With nearly 8,000 last year being fines and cautions, I would suggest that in some cases that fuels knife crime and does nothing to halt knife crime.""With nearly 8,000 last year being fines and cautions, I would suggest that in some cases that fuels knife crime and does nothing to halt knife crime."